Kurt Baschwitz
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Kurt Baschwitz (February 2, 1886, Offenburg
– January 6, 1968 Amsterdam
), was a journalist
and researcher for newspaper
s.
Baschwitz, who, as customary in German middle class, was not called by his first name but always his second name Kurt, was a German Jew and a friend of Otto Frank
, the father of Anne Frank
. Baschwitz also was the second expert witness to review the Diary of Anne Frank
.
In 1933 he emigrated from Nazi-Germany to the Netherlands
. Even though he rarely left his house after the German occupation of the Netherlands
in 1940, he got arrested by German police during a street razzia and was brought to Westerbork concentration camp near Amsterdam. Only five days later, his daughter Isa Teske-Baschwitz achieved his release by using forged documents as well as real documents.
After the war, he stayed in the Netherlands
and worked as a professor for press, propaganda and public opinion research at Amsterdam University (1946–1947). He founded the institute for the science of the press at Amsterdam University in July 1948 and was its first director.
Offenburg
Offenburg is a city located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With about 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city and the capital of the Ortenaukreis.Offenburg also houses University of Applied Sciences Offenburg...
– January 6, 1968 Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
), was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and researcher for newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s.
Baschwitz, who, as customary in German middle class, was not called by his first name but always his second name Kurt, was a German Jew and a friend of Otto Frank
Otto Frank
Otto Heinrich "Pim" Frank was a German-born businessman and the father of Anne Frank and Margot Frank...
, the father of Anne Frank
Anne Frank
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank is one of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Acknowledged for the quality of her writing, her diary has become one of the world's most widely read books, and has been the basis for several plays and films.Born in the city of Frankfurt...
. Baschwitz also was the second expert witness to review the Diary of Anne Frank
Anne Frank
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank is one of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Acknowledged for the quality of her writing, her diary has become one of the world's most widely read books, and has been the basis for several plays and films.Born in the city of Frankfurt...
.
In 1933 he emigrated from Nazi-Germany to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Even though he rarely left his house after the German occupation of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1940, he got arrested by German police during a street razzia and was brought to Westerbork concentration camp near Amsterdam. Only five days later, his daughter Isa Teske-Baschwitz achieved his release by using forged documents as well as real documents.
After the war, he stayed in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and worked as a professor for press, propaganda and public opinion research at Amsterdam University (1946–1947). He founded the institute for the science of the press at Amsterdam University in July 1948 and was its first director.
Literary works
- Der Massenwahn, seine Wirkung und seine Beherrschung, 1923
- De strijd met den duivel. De heksenprocessen in het licht der massapsychologie, 1948
- De krant door alle tijden, 1938
- Du und die Masse, 21951
See also
- Rita Kohnstamm (nl)